[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1148 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1148


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 26, 2009

    Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a program in 
  the maritime environment for the mobile biometric identification of 
    suspected individuals, including terrorists, to enhance border 
                               security.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. MARITIME BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
conduct, in the maritime environment, a program for the mobile 
biometric identification of suspected individuals, including 
terrorists, to enhance border security and for other purposes.
    (b) Requirements.--The Secretary shall ensure the program described 
in subsection (a) is coordinated with other biometric identification 
programs within the Department of Homeland Security.
    (c) Cost Analysis.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate an analysis 
of the cost of expanding the Department's biometric identification 
capabilities for use by departmental maritime assets considered 
appropriate by the Secretary. The analysis may include a tiered plan 
for the deployment of the program described in subsection (a) that 
gives priority to vessels and units more likely to encounter 
individuals suspected of making unlawful border crossings through the 
maritime environment.
    (d) Definition.--For the purposes of this section, the term 
``biometric identification'' means the use of fingerprint and digital 
photography images.

            Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 2009.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.